The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-14
and I guess I'll take some round. You
stay here till come back.

and I guess I'll take some round. You
stay here till l come back.
The old man took three mules from
the corral, and. riding ono of them.
went up the canon. Mabel and the
doctor sat upon the porch aud called to
each other. as the short twilight of the
south rapidly faded into tho dark gray
of night They had sat about an hour,
when suddenly old Quarlls appeared
coming out Of the house.
Say, you folks. it's about 9 O. clock,
and l reckon we'll 60 to bed. Come
along o me. Doc. and Ill show you
where you're to sleep"
Bidding Mabel good night, the doc
tor did as he was told, and was soon in
as sound \ sleep AS no ever was in his
life stretched out on the floor.
He never knew how long he slept.
When he walked up there was old
Quarlls kneeling beside him on the
floor and shaking him. AS he opened
his eyes. the old man said to him:
"Wake up, Doc. tn Reds have
come, after all.''
In an instant, Blaisdell was on his
feet, and Quarlls continued:
Il hearn' the dogs barkin' some time
ago an got up. Then 1 peeped out,
and see by the moonlight tho Injinns
stampeedin' the stock outer the corral.
Then leone for you."
The two men went to the door and
peeped out through tho holes cut for
the rifles. In few minutes they saw
half dozen Indians separate from the
main band aud come towards the house.
Old Quarlls raised his rifle, and putting
it through one of the holes, fired. Two
Indians dropped, and the rest, with q
yell, retreated.
doctor, you must take that end of
the house and I'll take this" '.Mabel,"
continued the old man to tho girl. who
had just entered the room, you get
the extra rifles out. and give Doc. lot
of cartridges. Bring some to me. It's
an 1njun' raid.''
The girl, without word. left the
room, and the doctor took up his posi-
ton at the window on the right, while
Old Sam went into the next room on
the left.
AS DR.. Blaisdell stood there waiting
for sight OF the Indians, and thought
of the peril they were all in, he made
one of the most important discoveries
of his life. He found that he loved the
girl he was there to protcct,-a thing he
had not known of before. He was con-
scious of a great wave of tenderness
rushing over his heart, and with it
savage feeling that he would die fight
ing before she should fall into the
hands of the savages.
! When Mabel came into the room.
carrying the rifle and ammunition, she
said to him.
rs there very much danger?''
Il hope not, Mabel"
| Il knew woman once-oh! prom
Use me that you will kill mo before they
capture me?'and she clasped her hands
Ground his arm.
The doctor put his arm around her
waist and drew her to him.
''Mabcl, my darling. l promise, l
promise because love you-love you
with all my heart
The girls head sank on his shoulder
as she looked shyly down.
Sweet one. do you love me? Look
at me one moment, Mabel"
The girl looked up. and said:
Pm not frightened now, WILL"
Bending down to her, Will Biaisdell
kissed Mabel Quarlls in a solemn way
that was almost like II blessing; then he
held her tight for few seconds. 1t
was their betrothal.
Il must 60. WILL" she said, looking
at him quietly.
With one more kiss he released her,
and turned to his post of observation.
At that moment he saw. shooting out
of the grease-wood bushes, an arrow,
having upon it a lighted band of dry
bunch-grass. A moment afterwards
yell from tho Indians showed that it
had stuck in the matched roof. As the
arrow rose out of tho bushes old Sam
fired, and the yell of triumph when the
arrow struck was broken by one of an
guish that told that the bullet had
found a mark.
The fire arrows began to fly thickly,
some sticking, and some falling short.
The rifles of the two men spoke loudly.
and generally with effect, Judging from
the cries. But those of tho Indians
were not silent. They had fired from
time to time, and their bullets striking
the adobe bricks, or the heavy wooden
shutters and doors, had been wasted.
DIR. Blaisdell was just loading again,
when he heard his name called by
Mabel. Going into the other room, he
found the girl supporting her father.
out of whose breast the deep red tide
flowing from bullet hole showed that
the old man had not long to live.
Guess I'm beyond patching this
time. Doc.,' said the old man, with
! grim smile, as Blaisdell knelt down be-
side him. 1.-The roofs on fire. and
it's bout time to quit. Mabel knows
the trap-door. Take care of her. She's
rich. She knows where it's hid.
Swear you will take care of her." re-
peated the dying man, with startling
emphasis, as he seized the young
mans arm.
"Mabel will be my wife. please God.
if we get out of this alive"
The old man smiled, looked at his
daughter with intense affection. and
sank back dead.
Carefully examining the body for a
moment. Blaisdcll rose, and lifting the
weeping girl. said: Its all over, Mt
bel.' Giving her moment or two